Experiencing neutropenia: Quality of life interviews with adult cancer patients

A sample of 34 patients who developed grade 4 neutropenia during the first cycle of chemotherapy completed a total of 100 structured clinical interviews. Interviews were transcribed, and 2 raters inductively developed 5 broad categories comprising 80 specific complaint domains nominated by patients. Thirty-five patient-nominated problems were mentioned in 5% or more of the interviews.Fatigue was the most common physical symptom. Interference in daily routine, negative self-evaluation, negative emotion, and social isolation were other common complaints associated with neutropenia.Neutropenia is associated with a number of negative experiences among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and these negative experiences have an adverse effect on the patient's quality of life. Oncology nurses can play a key role in helping patients manage adverse effects to maintain their quality of life.Quality of life (QOL) issues have historically played an important part in the nursing role of patient advocacy. Ropka et al. found in the Year 2000 ONS Research Priorities Survey that quality of life ranked second among the top 20 research priorities of sampled nurses [1]. Other priorities included neutropenia/immunosuppression (fifth), as well as depression and stress-coping adaptation in thirteenth and fourteenth place respectively. These research priorities and the realization that accurate assessment of QOL in patients can provide both physicians and nurses with important clinical information [2] have provided the framework for initiating this research on the correlation between chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and QOL.The term quality of life has been defined and measured in many different ways in the literature. Haas [3] offers the following definition to differentiate QOL from closely related concepts such as well-being, satisfaction with life, and functional status:"QOL is a multidimensional evaluation of an individual's current life circumstances in the context of the culture